Guide to the Women's International Club Records, 1944-2011 UA.40.01.01

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Women's International Club Records
Creator
University of Pittsburgh. Women's International Club
Collection Number
UA.40.01.01
Extent
4.3 Linear Feet (11 mss boxes)
Date
1944-2011
Date
1963-2011
Abstract
The Women's International Club was founded on August 4, 1939 at the University of Pittsburgh within the Nationality Rooms Program. The purpose of the club was to establish communication between the various Nationality Rooms committees and to promote intercultural understanding and exchange within the university and city community.
Language
English .
Author
Carly Lough and Marianne Kasica.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Acquisition Information

Deposited by Christina Lagnese in March 2013.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Copyright

The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Previous Citation

Women's International Club Records, UA.40.01.01, University Archives, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

Women's International Club Records, UA.40.01.01, University Archives, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Carly Lough and Marianne Kasica in March 2013.

Scope and Content Notes

The collections consists of the administrative files and records of the activities of the club. Included are corresponcence files, treasurer's reports, minutes (incomplete) and events. A prominent section of records is that of the development and sales of the Nationality Rooms Recipe Book.

History

Nationality Rooms Program Director Ruth Crawford Mitchell founded the Women's International Luncheon Club on August 4, 1939, just one year after the completion of the first Nationality Classroom in the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh. The Nationality Rooms Program itself originated from a wish to celebrate and explore Pittsburgh's multinational and multicultural background as well as garner support from the Pittsburgh community for the construction of the Cathedral of Learning. The club's foundation was an extension of this intercultural mission.

The original members were female representatives of the Nationality Room Committees who met to exchange progress reports on the developing rooms. The club accordingly became a communication hub for the classroom committees. Almost immediately after its founding, the club faced the disunity that came with the emerging conflict in Europe. Because of its purposeful exclusion of political affiliation or motive, the club met with enthusiastic interest from Pittsburgh women eager to forestall wartime disunion. Members assembled regularly at luncheons to discuss current events and view lectures by faculty speakers in Political Science, History and Languages. The organization assumed its current name, the Women's International Club, on October 23, 1947 to better reflect its goals of global consciousness, outreach and learning.

In 1961 the club began awarding scholarships to University students interested in pursuing studies abroad. Permanent funding was secured by the 1975 publication of The Nationality Rooms Recipe Book, the proceeds of which subsidized the endowment that funds the Women's International Club (WIC) summer abroad scholarship. Although the book was essentially a WIC project, it benefited from contributions by the Nationality Rooms committee members and the Nationality Rooms Office administrative staff. The Women's International Club meets quarterly and remains a co-sponsor in the Summer Study Abroad scholarship program.

Separated Material

The floppy disks that contain the electronic version of the Recipe Book are in Box 11. The file has been transferred to the Archives server.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Cathedral of Learning (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • University of Pittsburgh. Nationality Rooms Program
    • University of Pittsburgh. Women's International Club -- Records and correspondence

    Personal Names

    • Mitchell, Ruth Crawford

    Occupations

    • Cookbooks -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh

    Genres

    • Minutes
    • Financial records
    • Bylaws (Administrative records)
    • Membership lists
    • Correspondence

    Other Subjects

    • Women
    • University of Pittsburgh
    • Women -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh -- Societies and clubs

Container List